Nov 17, 2003 / 22:00 pm
A contractor hired to build an abortion clinic quit his job this month after all of his workers and subcontractors boycotted the project and refused to work for him, reported the Associated Press Nov. 14.
Planned Parenthood was surprised when Browning Construction Co., one of the state's largest contractors, pulled out of the project only six weeks after the ground-breaking. Clearing, excavation and some of the underground plumbing had already been done, but the foundation had not been put in, reported the AP. Planned Parenthood said this was the first such boycott they have ever seen.
Pro-life construction-industry executive Chris Danze organized the boycott.
Danze, 48, an owner of Maldonado & Danze Inc., a concrete-foundation contractor, spearheaded a campaign, urging more than 750 Austin- and San Antonio-area businesses not to provide supplies or services for the project. He recruited contractors to join the Texas Contractors and Suppliers for Life Association. Danze said hundreds of subcontractors agreed to boycott the project, though not all of them said whether they were anti-abortion. Danze told the AP that some simply did not want to get involved in a controversial project.